Golf accessory



1929. H. w. ST. JOHN 1,723,091

GOLF ACCESSORY Filed Aug. 11. 1928 INVENTOR.

%M W BY I A RNE Y5.

Patented Aug. 6, 1929.

UNITED STATES HENRY w. ST. JOHN, or BRIGHTWATERS, NEW YORK.

GOLF ACCESSORY.

Application filed August 11, 1928. Serial No. 288,928.

This invention is a golf accessory through the use of which golf balls which fall into water hazards, lakes or streams on a golf course may be recovered with ease and expedition.

Generally speaking, the invention embodies a collapsible rod which in collapsed condition is of a length adapting it to be readily carried in a golf bag along with the golf clubs. The construction is such that after being withdrawn from the bag, it can be readily extended to form a relatively long rod to one end of which is secured a grappling device. This grappling device is preferably in the form of a plurality of clamping members or jaws which are resiliently impelled toward one another to collectively grasp a golf ball and hold the same against inadvertent displacement. lVith these jaws means is associated to normally maintain them in retracted or expanded positions, said means being in the nature of a trip or trigger arrangement which, upon the entry of a golf ball into the grappling device is engaged by the ball and actuated thereby to release the jaws and permit them to spring together to engage with and tightly grip the ball.

In its preferred, practical form, the rod preferably embodies a plurality of collapsible sections and the grappling device is secured in any suitable manner to the free end of the smallest section and embodies a plurality of spring fingers which collectively form a cage having an open end. The trigger device embodies a plate having associated therewith a plurality of links, one end of each of which is pivoted to the plate while the other end of each link is pivotally associated with one of the fingers. The arrangement is such that the plate and links constitute collectively a multiple toggle with the plate forming a common elbow.

lVhen the toggle is in extended position, the spring fingers are forced apart to permit the entry of the ball into the cage-like structure of the grappling device, but when the ball strikes the plate, the inertia of the ball is adapted to break the toggle and thereby permit the spring arms to infoldtoward one another and grip the ball tightly. With this device balls may be readily recovered from water hazards, streams, etc. and even though they rest on the mud at the bottom of such a water hazard, the grapple may be lowered over the ball and brought into engagement therewith to grasp the ball and firmly hold it while it is being removed from the hazard.

Features of the invention, other than those specified, will be apparent from the hereinafter detailed description and claims, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

The accompanying drawing illustrates one practical embodiment of the invention, but understood as illustrative, only, and not as defining the limits of the invention.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a device of the present invention in extended operable condition.

Figure 2 shows the position.

Figure 3 is an enlarged side elevation of the grappling device.

Figure 4 is a plan View of such device.

In the drawin 1, 2 and 3 designate tuparts in compacted b, bular sections adapted to telescope within one another so as to normally partake of the compacted condition shown in F 2. These sections may, however, be extended to form an elongated rod as illustrated in Fig. 1. The sections 1 and 2 are preferably made of light tubing while the section 3 may be made tubular or in the form of a solid rod. Each of these sections may, moreover, be of uniform diameter throughout its individual length or one or more of them may be longitudinally tapered as illustrated by the sec-' tion 3 in Fig. 1. These sections are, moreover, preferably so associated that they are normally precluded from complete withdrawal from one another. In other words, when moved into extended relation suitable stops are provided so that the section 2 will not pull out of the section 1 nor the section 3 pull out of the section 2. In any event, these sections collectively constitute a collapsible and extensible rod which, when in compacted condition, is of a length well adapting it to be carried in a golf club bag.

The formation of the rod of telescoping sections is the preferred embodiment of the invention, yet this rod may be made collapsible in any other suitable manner. It is desirable, however, that the rod be of minithe construction therein shown is to be as indicated at 5 to screw on to the free end mum weight and thickness in order not to unduly encumber the golf bag when not in use.

Any number of relatively collapsible sections may be employed, but in any event, the free end of the smallest section is adapted to support the grappling device, The grappling device may be permanently secured to the section 8, but it is desirable that it be readily demountable therefrom in order that it may be normally carried in the bag along with the golf balls. A very convenient form of mounting is shown in Fig. 3. Here the grappling device is shown as provided at its base with a tubular hub 4, one end of which is interiorly threaced of the section 3 and the entire grappling device is mounted upon the hub 4.

While the form of this device may vary without departing from the spirit of this invention, it is shownin the drawings as comprising a plurality of resilient clamping fingers 6 which may conveniently be formed from wire, and one end of each of which fingers is anchored within the hub 4. Each of the wire fingers is bowed outwardly and they are arranged so as to collectively form a cage having an open end. Positionec within the cage is a contact plate '2 and to this contact plate are pivoted as many links 8 as there are clamping fingers and the opposite end of each link is provided with a loop 6 which embraces one of the fingers 6. Each of the fingers 6 is provided with a stop 6 which limits the movement of the loops in the direction of the free ends of the fingers and determines the position of multiple toggle when in finger distending condition.

It will be noted that the pivotal connection between the links 8 and the contact plate 7 in each instance is such as to limit pivotal movement between the plate and link in one direction so that each pair of oppositely positioned links constitutes in effect a toggle, the contact plate of which forms the elbow and provides for pivotal conne;tion between such links, while limiting the flexing movement of each toggle in an outward or upward direction as shown in Fig. 8;

The relation of the parts is such that the pivotal movement of the toggle is arrested by the pivotal connections between the links and the plate in a position wherein the plate is slightly above the line of de d center of each toggle, and, accordingly, when the plate is moved from the normal dotted line position of Figure 8 up to, the full line position of such figure, the links will force the clamping arms apart until the plate has moved to the full line position, whereupon the fact that it is above the line of dead center of the toggles will automatically lock the parts in the full line position with all of the spring fingers 6 flexed outwardly to provide a relatively large opening at the upper end of the grapple. This is the position of which the parts of the grapple take when it is desired to retrieve a ball.

Therefore if a ball is lost in a hazard, the golfer may readily remove the compacted rod from the golf bag, extend the sections as shown in Fig. 1, thereupon attach the grappling device and distend the clamping fingers G by pressing out the plate 7 into the full line position of Fig. 3. l his having been accomplished, the golfer grasps the butt end of the rod and reaching out into the water hazard positions the open end of the grappling device in axial alinement with the ball. Then by a longitudinal movement of the rod, the grappling device is moved to a position wherein the ball is caused to enter the open end of such device. As it enters into the cage-like structure of this grappling device, slight forward impulse on the rod will cause th r'ontact plate 7 'to strike against the ball. The parts of the grappling device are made sufiiciently light and yielding, so that the resulting shock due to contact with the ball will be sufiicient to momentarily force the plate 7 in the direction of the hub at a sufficient distance to bring the plate beyond the lines of dead center of the toggles and as soon as this occurs, the toggles will immediately break i. e., they will be collapsed under the inherent resiliency of the spring fingers 6 with the result that the cage-like structure will close and embrace the ball therein. This operation may be carried out where the ball is floating or where it is lying on the mud at the bottom of the water hazard, but in either case the ball will be enclosed within the grappling device in such manner as to preclude its inadvertent disengagement therefrom. The ball may thus be retrieved and a ter removing it from the grappling device, the parts may be compacted and placed in the golf bag until the necessity for further use arises.

It will be apparent from the foregoing detailed description that the device of this invention is of relatively simple construction, may be economically manufactured and that it is thoroughly efiicient in the performance of its intended functions. I wish it understood, however, that the grappling device may be modified by the substitution of mechanical equivalents. For example, the gripping fingers or jaws may be made in greater or lesser numbers than as illustrated in the drawings and their shape may be varied. Moreover, while the particular tripping construction in the form of a multiple toggle has been found to be highly desirable, other forms of tripping mechanism may be utilized in order to effect a closing of the open end of the receptacle after the ball has entered thereinto understood as fully commensurate with the appended claims.

I call particular attention to the fact that in the form of the invention shown the grappling device comprises spring fingers which extend in a manner to project well beyond the tripping device and thereby adapt the device to reach into mud, grass and between the leaves of water lillies and the like which are frequently found in water hazards and to thereby embrace the ball so that when the tripping mechanism is operated and the grapple closed about the ball, the presence of grass, mud, etc. will not interfere with the capture of the ball which would be the case with a receptacle having a rigid mouth. Such a receptacle would be extremely difficult to force into the mud and would serve to roll up the bottom of the hazard so that the ball could not be seen. The present invention as shown in the drawings is entirely free from any such objections.

Having thus fully described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A golf accessory comprising a rod provided at one end with a grappling device, said device embodying a plurality of outwardly bowed resilient fingers adapted collectively to form a cage, trip mechanism connected to the several fingers for normally forcing them apart sufliciently to provide at their ends an opening large enough to permit the entrance of a golf ball into the cage, said trip mechanism being operable upon engagement with the ball to release the resilient fingers whereby they are permitted to move toward one another for the purpose of imprisoning the ball.

2. A golf accessory comprising a rod provided at one end with a grappling device, said device embodying a plurality of outwardly bowed resilient fingers adapted collectively to form a cage, and a multiple toggle connected to the several resilient fingers and adapted to normally maintain the fingers in forced apart relation under tension, said multiple toggle being adapted when engaged by a ball upon entrance into the cage to release the fingers for movement toward one another whereby the ball is imprisoned in the cage. l

3. A golf accessory comprising a rod provided at one end with a grappling device, said device embodying at least three cooperating clamping elements normally tending to move into clamped relation with respect to one another to collectively form a cage to receive and hold a ball therein, trip mechanism comprising a multiple toggle the several links of which are connected to the several clamping elements for normally forcing them apart sufficiently to provide at their ends an opening large enough to permit the entrance of a golf ball into the cage and all of the several toggle links being individually pivotally secured to a common elbow member, said trip mechanism being operable upon en agement with the ball to release the clamping elements whereby they are permitted to move toward one another for the purpose of imprisoning the ball.

In testimony whereof I have signed the foregoing specification.

HENRY W. ST. JOHN. 

